Partner
Email: Jchalat@chalatlaw.com
Phone: 303-861-1042
Experience: 40 Years
Since 1977, Jim Chalat has been a practicing trial lawyer specializing in plaintiffs’ personal injury, motor vehicle accidents, and wrongful death cases. Jim’s dedication to improving the lives of his clients and his focus on achieving the best outcome for the clients he represents is reflected in his recognition as one of the best personal injury lawyers in Colorado and the United States.
Jim has dedicated his career to representing clients who have sustained life-changing catastrophic injuries or have wrongfully lost family members. When Jim takes on a case, his clients immediately realize the benefit of his experience, intellect, and intense personal investment. He devotes his 40+ years of experience, extensive resources and acute understanding of mechanics and medicine to ensure every detail is addressed to build a strong case. Jim is an expert in investigating his clients’ cases and innovative in his development of strategies that are carefully designed to protect their personal and legal interests. His passion for justice and unwavering resolve for defending the rights of injured or wronged individuals has resulted in millions of dollars in jury verdicts, negotiated settlements, arbitration awards, and mediation results, including numerous high-profile cases and several record-setting verdicts and awards on behalf of his clients.
-Best Lawyers and U.S. News and World Report, “Best Lawyers in America: Personal Injury Litigation, Professional Malpractice Law, Legal
-Malpractice Law, Medical Malpractice Law,” 2013-2022. James H. "Jim" Chalat - Denver, CO - Lawyer | Best Lawyers
-Best Lawyers and U.S. News and World Report, “Best Law Firms in America: Tier 1 Law Firm, Denver, CO Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs,” 2017-2022.
-Best Lawyers in America, “Lawyer of the Year: Denver – Professional Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs,” 2017.
-Colorado Law Week, “People’s Choice - Best Personal Injury Lawyer,” 2020, 2018.
-Colorado Law Week, “Barrister’s Best - Best Personal Injury Lawyer,” 2017.
-Martindale-Hubble, Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, “AV Preeminent Rating: highest level of professional excellence for legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.”
-Martindale-Hubble, Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, “Client’s Choice.”
5280 Magazine, “Top Lawyers in Denver - Plaintiffs’ Personal Injury,” 2015 – Present.
-Colorado Super Lawyers, “Colorado Top 100 Super Lawyers,” 2006 – Present.
- 2015- present, 5280 MAGAZINE, “Denver’s Top Lawyers” Plaintiffs’ Personal Injury.
-Harvard Law School, “Torty Award,” 2019.
-The Supreme Court of the State of Colorado, “Pro Bono Achievement Award,” 2014 - 2016.
-Guest lecturer for Professor Jon Hanson, HLS (October 2010).
-Luz Maria Madrigal v. City of Greeley, 2016CV30315, Weld County District Court (Jan. 5, 2017) App. Dism’d, 2017CA122 (Colorado Court of Appeals Jan. 26, 2017). Blind Pedestrian’s claim for inoperative audible pedestrian signal.
-Ryan v. City of Steamboat Springs, 13CA0238, 2014 WL 1093189, not published pursuant to C.A.R. 35(F) (March 20, 2014). Wrongful death on an improperly closed ski slope – Colorado Governmental Immunity claim.
Baumann, et al. v. Zhukov, et al., 802 F.3d 950 (8th Cir., 2015). Multiple wrongful deaths – interstate trucking accident.
N.M. by and through Lopez v. Trujillo, 397 P.3D 370 (Colo. 2017). Animal liability.
-$18,502,819 judgment, Mendakota Insurance v. Ruzkowski, et al., v. Savage, Order and Judgment on Cross-claims, Clear Creek County, Colorado, Case Number: 2008CV104 (February 17, 2010). Motor vehicle/pedestrian accident.
-$10,100,000 jury verdict, Bargai v. Carlson, Denver District Court, Colorado, Case Number: 2006CV1550 (June 18, 2007). Medical malpractice.
-$8,300,000 jury verdict Grigg v. Wintergreen Partners, Inc, Co-counsel with Bryan Slaughter & Bruce Rasmussen, CL-03-9452, Circuit Court for Albermarle County, Virginia, (July 16, 2004) appeal dismissed, Wintergreen Partners, Inc. v. Grigg, Supreme Court of Virginia, Record No. 042956 (July 7, 2005) (unpublished).
-$1,400,000 jury verdict in a medical malpractice case, Nguyen v. Stecher, 01 CV 2541 Arapahoe County District Court, C0 (June 27, 2002).
-$6,170,563 jury verdict, Hoar v. Great Eastern Resort Management Inc., T/A Massanutten Ski Resort, Co-counsel with Bruce Rasmussen and Pat Regan, Circuit Court for Albermarle County, Virginia, (June 21, 1997) 506 S.E. 2d. 777 (Va. 1998).
-$2,400,000 jury verdict, reversed and remanded, Ulissey v. Shvartsman, 61 F.3rd 805 (10th Circ. 1995) settled before retrial. Representation of blind vendors, Hudson v. Boxer, 632 F. Supp. 1569 (D. Colo. 1986).